Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Sudan: Refugees

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask His Majesty's Government what aid they are providing tofleeing Sudanese refugees in camps situated in eastern Chad, the northern part of South Sudan, Egypt or Ethiopia; and whether they are working with (1) the United Nations High Commission on Refugees, and (2) the World Food Programme, to put in place such programmes in border areas.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: We are in close contact with partners, including the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and World Food Programme (WFP), on our support to refugees and returnees fleeing the violence in Sudan. On 4 May, the UK Government announced an initial £5 million allocation to help meet the urgent needs of tens of thousands of refugees and returnees in South Sudan and Chad. This support will benefit the UN Children's Fund, WFP and non-governmental organisations.

Sudan: Conflict Resolution

The Earl of Sandwich: To ask His Majesty's Government how they plan to develop a new conflict strategy and give further support to the UNITAMS peace-building unit in Sudan.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: As penholder on Sudan at the UN Security Council, the UK will lead the renewal of the mandate for the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS). Working with Council Members, we will ensure that UNITAMS has an effective mandate to address the situation on the ground.We continue to call on both sides to end the violence for the sake of the people of Sudan and the region. We are pursuing all diplomatic avenues with regional partners and others, including through multilateral organisations, to bring about a cessation of violence and pave the way for meaningful talks.

Sudan: Refugees

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask His Majesty's Government what procedures they have put in place for Sudanese nationals who seek to escape the violence in their country and join family members in the UK.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: Our current refugee resettlement schemes allow us to support the most vulnerable refugees direct from regions of conflict and instability. Through these schemes, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees refers refugees they have assessed as in need of resettlement here. Sudanese nationals who have travelled to a third country and wish to join family members in the UK will need to apply for a visa in the most appropriate route. Further information can be found online at GOV.UK

Sudan: Sanctions

The Earl of Sandwich: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to impose further targeted sanctions and Magnitsky-style penalties on all those who have abused human rights in Darfur.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The UK Government does not speculate on future designations as to do so could reduce their impact.Our immediate priority is to ensure a cessation of violence across Sudan, and secure humanitarian access. All parties to the conflict must uphold their responsibility to protect civilians and ensure humanitarian assistance can be delivered quicky and safely.We continue to call on both sides to respect International Law and immediately end the violence for the sake of the people of Sudan and the region.

Haiti: Politics and Government

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the current political and security situation in Haiti, particularly the level of crime and gang violence inthat country.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The UK is following closely the deteriorating political and security situation in Haiti and the impact this is having on the Haitian people. We encourage international partners to work together to assist in Haitian-led efforts to tackle the underlying causes of gang violence. UK officials are actively engaged in UN Security Council discussions on Haiti, including those on security. We will continue to work with our international partners to build a coordinated and coherent response.

Sudan: Refugees

The Lord Bishop of Leeds: To ask His Majesty's Government what financial assistance and logistical support they are providing and intend to provide to countries that have accepted Sudanese refugees, such as Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, and South Sudan.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: On 4 May the UK announced an initial £5 million allocation which will help to provide urgent assistance to tens of thousands of refugees and returnees in South Sudan and Chad fleeing violence in Sudan. We will share details about implementing agencies in due course. Via the UK's diplomatic presence across Africa, we are working to assess the needs of those displaced by the violence in Sudan and who have sought safety in neighbouring countries. The UK is a committed donor in Sudan, having spent over £250 million in humanitarian aid in the last five years.

Sudan: Armed Conflict

Lord Boateng: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the involvement of the Wagner Group and non-state actors in the conflict in Sudan.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The UK Government has repeatedly emphasised the negative influence of Russian activities in Africa. This includes reported Wagner Group involvement in the exploitation of Sudanese gold resources and supplying weapons to Sudan's Rapid Support Forces.

Sudan: Armed Conflict

Lord Boateng: To ask His Majesty's Government what action they are taking to reduce the supply of armaments to the parties engaged in conflict in Sudan.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: There is a longstanding UK arms embargo in place for the whole of Sudan, as well as a UN arms embargo on Darfur. These sanctions help prevent weapon flow into the country and stop those working against peace in Sudan. The UK is pursuing all diplomatic avenues, including through multilateral organisations, to end the violence and de-escalate tensions in Sudan.

Africa: Armed Conflict

Lord Boateng: To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to work with the African Union and African regional groupings to counter terrorism and promotesustainable economic development as abasisfor endingarmed conflict.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The UK works with the African Union and other African partners to counter the threat posed by terrorism, foster long-term stability, and to address the root causes of conflict. For example, we have provided £47.5 million of funding over the last two years to the reconfigured African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), working with ATMIS as it supports Somalia's efforts to fight al-Shabaab. The UK is also assessing what support it can offer to the Accra Initiative, a regional security initiative, to help prevent the spread of violence and instability from the Sahel to coastal West Africa. Sustainable development is an important factor in reducing the drivers of conflict and consideration of that factor is an important element in our work with African partners across the continent. One example is our support to the development of the African Continental Free Trade Area.

Iraq: Islamic State

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to engage the government of Iraq on the topic of safety and security in Sinjar following the resettlement of Daesh-affiliated families and suspected Daesh perpetrators to Sinjar.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Our diplomatic missions are in regular contact with Government of Iraq and Kurdistan regional Government authorities on the safety and security of the communities located in Sinjar. The UK Government provides funding support to the Directorate of Yazidi Affairs and during my [Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon] recent visit to Iraq I met with Yazidi communities and leaders to hear their experiences and reiterate UK support.Our "Building Peace and Security in Iraq" (BPSI) programme will support those affected by the protracted displacement crisis and includes both returnees and local communities, who face many of the same problems. The UK continues to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Government of Iraq as it works to rebuild from Daesh and deliver a more peaceful and hopeful future for its citizens, not divided along sectarian lines of old.

Iraq: Islamic State

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of rising tensions in Sinjar following the resettlement of (1) Daesh-affiliated families, and (2) suspected Daesh perpetrators.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK monitored the events in Sinjar over the 28-29 April weekend. We work closely with the Government of Iraq to ensure that the returns of all Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are safe and dignified and that they are able to reintegrate into society in a way that is positive for communities, including those who have suffered at the hands of Daesh. Our British Embassy Baghdad and Consulate General Erbil will continue to monitor the situation.

Nord Stream Pipelines

Lord Campbell-Savours: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that US and Norway forces participated in remote triggered exercises compromising the efficient operations in the case of three of the four Nord Stream pipelines in 2022.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: All currently available information indicates that this damage is the result of sabotage. The UK and G7 leaders have been clear: we condemn any deliberate disruption of critical infrastructure.Intentional damage to civilian infrastructure is reckless and irresponsible. The leaks not only caused risks to shipping but also substantial environmental damage in the Baltic Sea. The UK supports the investigations by Denmark, Sweden and Germany and stand ready to provide necessary support.

Ukraine: Humanitarian Aid

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the funds from the sale of Chelsea Football Club are urgently made available to aid victims of the war in Ukraine.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The proceeds from the sale of Chelsea FC are frozen in a UK bank account. They cannot be moved or used without a licence from the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation. Humanitarian experts outside of Government are responsible for the highly complex process to establish a foundation to manage and distribute the proceeds for humanitarian purposes in Ukraine. Setting up an organisation of this scale rightly takes time.

Syria: Reconstruction

Lord Hylton: To ask His Majesty's Government whatsteps they are taking to ensure that all funds pledged through UN Agencies for reconstruction in northern Syria following the February earthquake are paid in full.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Following the February earthquakes, the UK continues to focus on providing urgent life-saving and life-sustaining assistance to those in need, as well as early recovery activities, including emergency rehabilitation under the UN Flash Appeal. We will not provide any reconstruction assistance until the regime and its backers have engaged seriously with the UN-backed political process. Our funding is being delivered by trusted partners, including UN agencies. The FCDO has rigorous and robust checks to ensure aid goes to the people that need it, delivers value for money and protects against aid diversion.

Iraq: Refugees

Lord Hylton: To ask His Majesty's Government whatassessment they have made of (1) the number, and (2) the humanitarian situation, of refugees, including Yazidis, who remain in camps in (a) the autonomous region of north-east Syria, and (b) Kurdistan, following the defeat of ISIS; and what steps they are taking to expedite their return home.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK remains committed to the safety and security of refugees, including Yazidis in North-East Syria and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Due to the shifting circumstances on the ground we are not in a position to make an accurate estimate of their number. When appropriate we raise the troubling humanitarian situation in refugee camps with the relevant authorities. Durable solutions must be pursued for displaced populations, including return, relocation, or local integration, where appropriate. We regularly raise this with the relevant authorities, the Iraq Government, UN bodies, international partners and our development programming in Iraq will support these efforts.

British Overseas Territories

Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton: To ask His Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of the Overseas Territories White Paper, published in 2012; and what plans they have to review it.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: This Government remains committed to upholding our constitutional responsibilities towards the Overseas Territories. While the commitments in the 2012 White Paper remain relevant, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is leading UK Government Departments in the development of a new Overseas Territories Strategy.

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

Voice Over Internet Protocol

Lord Clement-Jones: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers byViscount Camrose on 5 April (HL6987, HL6988, HL6989 and HL6990), what communications BT customers will receive during the migration to Digital Voice; how the installation process and equipment will be deployed; and whether there will be planned engineer visits for customers that either do not have any technical experience to install equipment or are unable to.

Lord Clement-Jones: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers byViscount Camrose on 5 April (HL6987, HL6988, HL6989 and HL6990), whether local authorities are represented on theDigital Phone Advisory Group.

Viscount Camrose: In April, BT announced the expansion of its trials of Digital Voice with a small group of customers, extending beyond its pilot schemes in Salisbury in the South West, and Mildenhall in Suffolk. This expansion group will be made up of lower usage landline customers who already have a full fibre broadband connection. These customers will be contacted four weeks in advance to help ensure they’re ready to migrate to Digital Voice. This will be followed by further communication ahead of their switchover date. These will be sent out via letter, postcards and text messages and will include all of the information they need to make the switch, including how to set up their phone on the day of the switch. For most customers, the switch will consist of simply connecting a handset to a router rather than the phone socket on the wall.BT has engaged with a broad range of external stakeholders as part of its Digital Voice migration programme. The Digital Voice Advisory Group (DVAG) has advised BT on how best to support and engage with customers who will require additional support to migrate to Digital Voice. Members of the DVAG include representative groups and charities such as Age UK, Department of Health and Social Care, Independent Age, Rural Services Network, Silver Voices and Which?. BT have also invited other organisations to attend meetings on an ad hoc basis.BT has engaged with local authorities in a number of areas related to Digital Voice, although no local authorities are formal members of DVAG. BT is working with local authorities via industry working groups to discuss issues such as telecare and frequently speaks to the Local Government Association about Digital Voice.In the pilot areas of Salisbury and Mildenhall, Communication Providers have cultivated working relationships with Wiltshire and Suffolk Councils to support the migration and related engagement activity. Communication Providers will replicate this approach when the time comes to migrate customers on a regional basis, working closely with other local authorities across the country to ensure the regional migration is as effective as possible.

Voice Over Internet Protocol

Lord Clement-Jones: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers byViscount Camrose on 5 April (HL6987, HL6988, HL6989 and HL6990), how at-risk customers, such as the chronically sick and disabled, who will receive additional support during their migration process under the Digital Voice programme, were identified by BT; and how many at-risk customers they identified in total.

Viscount Camrose: While the number of at-risk customers BT have identified is commercially confidential, BT has developed a range of solutions to help ensure all of its customers, including those who are chronically ill, disabled or require additional support in another way, can have confidence in moving to and using the new home phone service. These options include, among others, free battery back-up units to engineer supported installations or hybrid landline phones. BT will provide the router and a Digital Voice adapter free of charge, on request to customers that need it.The exact configuration of support each customer will require will vary depending on their specific needs. Customers wishing to contact BT by phone can do so at any time on 0800 800 150 to discuss their specific requirements. Additionally, further information about the range of support on offer is available on the BT website. Other Communications Providers offer similar services. If any customer needs any additional support or if they have additional needs, BT will arrange for an engineer to make a home visit.

Voice Over Internet Protocol

Lord Clement-Jones: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers byViscount Camrose on 5 April (HL6987, HL6988, HL6989 and HL6990), what connectivity solutions they are proposing under theDigital Voice programme topremises with (1) little or no electricity, or (2) no mobile phone signal, in the event of (a) a power cut, or (b) where a resident does not have or want a mobile phone.

Lord Clement-Jones: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers byViscount Camrose on 5 April (HL6987, HL6988, HL6989 and HL6990), how future-proofed the Digital Voice solutions will be in terms of (1) future mobile technology, and (2) the range of successive generations.

Lord Clement-Jones: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers byViscount Camrose on 5 April (HL6987, HL6988, HL6989 and HL6990), who will cover the cost in cases where a (1) broadband router, or (2) Wi-Fi extender, is required under the Digital Voice programme.

Viscount Camrose: Communication Providers, including BT, have a range of solutions available for Digital Voice customers, particularly those who require extra support. For most customers with additional needs who live in an area with 4G mobile coverage, mobile remains the best way of making calls in the event of a power loss. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is working with industry to extend mobile coverage through projects such as the Shared Rural Network, and also to improve resilience of the mobile network.Customers who do not have, or do not want, a mobile phone can request a hybrid phone with a built-in battery that switches automatically to the mobile network in the event of a power outage. This device looks and feels like a normal landline handset. For Digital Voice customers who live in an area without mobile signal and are identified as vulnerable, BT will provide a battery back-up unit free of charge. For customers without a fixed broadband connection, BT are also looking at developing a device which functions in the same way as the landline but uses the mobile network instead.Ofcom estimates that less than 1% of BT landline customers have insufficient 4G mobile coverage in their area to make an emergency call. This number will drop as BT provides further investment to continue expanding its network – since March 2020 EE, part of BT Group, has improved 4G coverage in over 1,500 locations across the UK and expects to improve coverage in hundreds of further locations by June 2024.We encourage customers who have questions about their power supply to contact their energy provider as Communications Providers do not provide a solution for customers without access to mains power.

Ministry of Justice

Funerals: Fees and Charges

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking toensure that funeral services remain affordable for all.

Lord Bellamy: The Competition and Markets Authority continues to monitor the funerals market following its recent investigation, publishing annual reviews on developments in the market. The first review, published in January 2023, set out evidence that since the introduction of transparency rules (part of the Competition and Markets Authority’s Funerals Market Investigation Order 2021)  funeral prices are flat after many years of real-terms rises. This means that costs paid by UK consumers for funeral services are likely to be lower as a result of the Competition and Markets Authority’s intervention.The Competition and Markets Authority will continue its work to ensure that all consumers are able to benefit from the measures introduced in the Order and it has the information required to monitor consumer outcomes.Additionally, the Government helps with the cost of funeral services for many bereaved families through the Funeral Expenses Payment scheme and the Children’s Funeral Fund.

Remand in Custody: Children

The Lord Bishop of Derby: To ask His Majesty's Government how many children are being held on remand in the most recent period for which data is available; and whether they are taking steps to reduce this.

Lord Bellamy: As at 31 March 2023, there were 244 children and young people remanded to custody in the Youth Secure Estate (this figure includes 18-year-olds). Remanding a child to custody must always be a last resort, however that option must remain open to the courts where it is necessary to protect the public.In 2022, the Government strengthened the tests the courts must satisfy to remand a child to custody, through the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts (PCSC) Act, and published a review of the use of custodial remand for children. We continue to work through the review’s recommendations with youth justice partners to ensure custodial remand is used proportionately. This includes launching a consultation in summer 2023 on options for reforming remand grant funding to facilitate better use of community provision and services for children at risk of custodial remand.The Government commissioned a forthcoming HMI Probation, HMI Prisons and Ofsted independent joint thematic inspection on youth remand, which will help identify further opportunities for reducing the number of children on remand.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Inland Waterways and Rivers: Chemicals

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of any damage to waterways and rivers caused by chemical pollutants.

Lord Benyon: We take over 90,000 measurements of water quality each year to meet a wide range of legislative, regulatory, statutory requirements. Many of these are to monitor a large range of chemicals used by industry, the public and in food production. We currently classify the state of waterbodies within rivers, estuaries, coastal waters and streams under the Water Framework Directive (Standards and Classification) Directions (England and Wales) 2015. This reports on over 30 measures, grouped into ecological status and chemical status which guides action to manage water quality. The attached guidance document includes information about how we classify water bodies.Classifying water bodies (pdf, 249.6KB)

Rural Areas: Poverty

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government whatsteps they are taking to support the rural economy to tackle rural poverty.

Lord Benyon: The Government is committed to tackling poverty wherever it is found. The Government recognises that median earnings for those working in rural areas are below those in urban areas and is putting in place measures to improve productivity in rural areas and grow the economy so that those living there can prosper. Defra has for example launched the £110 million Rural England Prosperity Fund to help new and existing rural businesses to develop products and facilities that will be of wider benefit to the local economy as well supporting new and improved community infrastructure. The fund is being delivered by local authorities in eligible areas and we confirmed their allocations in April 2023 so that they can begin implementation. There is also a huge opportunity for the agriculture and horticulture sectors to improve their competitiveness – developing the next generation of food and farming technology, adopting the latest techniques and investing in skills and equipment. In November 2021 Defra opened the Farming Investment Fund which is providing grants to farmers, foresters and growers (including contractors to these sectors) so that they can invest in the equipment, technology and infrastructure that will help their businesses to prosper, while improving their productivity and enhancing the environment. Following Round 1 of the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund we have already provided funding of more than £33 million to 3,200 farmers. The Farming Innovation Programme is helping to drive innovations by providing £270 million of funding to support farmers, growers, foresters, and other businesses in England to develop innovative ways to increase productivity and environmental sustainability, as well as helping them to decarbonise by researching and developing new technologies, processes and practices.

Hen Harriers: Conservation

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask His Majesty's Government (1) whetherNatural England's Scientific Advisory Committee will publish their recently completed assessment report on the hen harrier brood meddling trial, (2) on what basis the decision was made by Natural England licensing services to extend the trial by two years rather than a longer or shorter period or not at all,and (3) whether they can identify the number of hen harrier chicks that were part of the trialand are subsequently known or thought to have fallen victim to illegal persecution.

Lord Benyon: An overview of Natural England's (NE) Science Advisory Committee review of the Brood Management Trial was published in this NE blog on 16 March 2023: naturalengland.blog.gov.uk/2023/03/16/update-on-the-hen-harrier-brood-management-trial/. A copy is attached with this answer. They advised that further social science data on changing attitudes, was needed. Consequently, The Brood Management partnership has applied for a licence for two years (2023-2024) to allow for further data to be collected. NE’s wildlife licensing service assessed this two-year licence application and issued the licence on 4 May 2023. The trial is designed to understand how the availability of brood management may affect the persecution of all hen harriers. All hen harriers in England are therefore part of the trial, and research is underway on survival rates of wild reared hen harriers satellite-tagged by NE, before and after the availability of brood management. Of the 32 hen harriers reared in captivity and released with satellite tags, 10 are still alive, six dead birds have been recovered (five confirmed died naturally, one currently under investigation), and 16 have stopped transmitting and have not been recovered. The status of all tagged hen harriers tracked by NE is regularly published on this page: www.gov.uk/government/publications/hen-harriers-tracking-programme-update/hen-harrier-tracking-update.Hen harrier trial update (pdf, 214.6KB)

Horticulture

Baroness Fookes: To ask His Majesty's Government when they expect to publish the horticulture strategy for England as set out in the Government Food Strategy, published on 13 June 2022.

Lord Benyon: The domestic horticulture sector is crucial to the resilience of our food system as well as an important part of our wider economy and we are committed to supporting it. We are delivering for the sector, investing more than £168 million to drive innovation and support food production, and have passed the new Genetic Technology Act to reduce the regulatory burden and unlock the potential of new technologies. Defra regularly engages with the horticulture industry to understand what support they need to continue to produce great British food. I discussed this and other issues at the Farm to Fork Summit in No.10. We will build on this and set out an action plan for the horticulture sector in the Autumn, when we will also respond to the Labour Review.

Department for Business and Trade

Electricians: Regulation

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government (1) what assessment they have made of the responses to the Scottish Government's recent consultation on the regulation of electricians, and (2) whether they will consider conducting a similar consultation in England.

The Earl of Minto: The Government consulted on measures needed to enhance consumer protection which has led to the introduction of the Digital Market, Competition and Consumers Bill. Consumer awareness and assistance is devolved to the Scottish Government and is a matter for them to consider. The Government currently have no plans to conduct a similar consultation in England and Wales.

Iron and Steel: Government Assistance

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to assist the steel industry with increased trade and energy costs.

The Earl of Minto: Global economic conditions continue to be challenging for the steel industry. We are working with the sector to support its transition to a competitive, decarbonised future.In February we announced the British Industry Supercharger – a package of decisive measures that will bring energy costs for energy intensive industries, including steel, in line with those charged across the world’s major economies.These measures build on extensive support provided by the Government since 2013 including the Energy Bill Relief Scheme which ran until March 2023 and the Energy Bills Discount Scheme which we will continue until 31 March 2024.The Government has also legislated for the full suite of tools permitted under the World Trade Organisation to tackle injury caused by unfair trading practices and unexpected import surges. Our actions include extending Steel Safeguard measures until June 2024 and transitioning a number of steel specific anti-dumping measures on steel goods.

flypop: Future Fund

Baroness Randerson: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Callanan on 29 March 2022 (HL6989), whether FlyPop was granteda licence by the Civil Aviation Authority; and if not, what time limits have been set for businesses to become operational before monies obtained through the Future Fund are required to be repaid.

The Earl of Minto: Licensing is a matter for the Civil Aviation Authority.The repayment of monies obtained through the Future Fund is not driven by businesses becoming operational. The Future Fund is invested through a standardised 3-year term Convertible Loan Agreement (‘CLA’); the CLA either converts to equity or is repaid in accordance with the terms of the agreement. The full scheme eligibility criteria and rules can be viewed on the British Business Bank’s website.

Department of Health and Social Care

Integrated Care Boards: Pay

Lord Scriven: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Markham on 27 April (HL7236),whether they assessed the chief executive role for South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw integrated care board as exceptional for a higher salary; and what differences existed in South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw which justified a different salary to the chief executive for West Yorkshire which has similar issues of complexity.

Lord Markham: Pay levels for integrated care board (ICB) CEOs were subject to NHS England approval following applications made by each integrated care system or ICB, according to a pay framework agreed between NHS England and the Department. The pay framework determined the pay ranges available for roles, including the CEOs of West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw. Any salaries proposed above the midpoint of the agreed respective pay ranges had to obtain additional Ministerial approval.

Treasury

Taxation: Self-assessment

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: To ask His Majesty's Government what provision they have made for thosewho are unable to make their P11D returns online; and, if they have made no such provision, whether they plan to do so.

Baroness Penn: The PAYE regulations have for some time required employers to make their regular payroll reports online and now also require employers to report P11D information online. Paper routes to submit these will continue to be available for the small number of digitally exempt customers for whom the existing PAYE regulations already make provision.

Home Office

Detainees: Deportation

Lord Scriven: To ask His Majesty's Government, under the provisions of the Illegal Migration Bill, how many individuals they are planning to hold in detention, ready to be removed, at the end of (1) 2024, (2) 2025, (3) 2026, and (4) 2027.

Lord Scriven: To ask His Majesty's Government, under the provisions of the Illegal Migration Bill, how many unaccompanied children seeking asylum they are planning to remove from the UK on their 18th birthday at the end of (1) 2024, (2) 2025, (3) 2026, and (4) 2027.

Lord Scriven: To ask His Majesty's Government, under the provisions of the Illegal Migration Bill, how many people they are planning to remove to a safe third country in each of the years (1) 2024, (2) 2025, (3) 2026, and (4) 2027.

Lord Murray of Blidworth: As set out in clause 1(1), the purpose of the Bill is to prevent and deter unlawful migration, and in particular migration by unsafe and illegal routes, by requiring the Home Secretary to return illegal migrants to their home country or remove them to a safe third country.An economic impact assessment will be published for the Bill in due course.

Children's Rights: Impact Assessments

The Lord Bishop of Durham: To ask His Majesty's Government whether a Child Rights Impact Assessment has been carried out for the Illegal Migration Bill to assess the impact it will have on children; if so, what was the outcome of the assessment; and if it has not yet been completed, when it will take place.

Lord Murray of Blidworth: We will publish a child’s rights impact assessment in respect of the Illegal Migration Bill in due course.

Senior Civil Servants

Lord Norton of Louth: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Sharpe of Epsom on 22 March (HL6263), what evidence the Permanent Secretary to the Home Office has todemonstrate that officials who advise ministers "are aware of the constitutional significance of Parliament and of the conventions governing the relationship between Parliament and [His] Majesty's Government", as set out in section 3(6) of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom: All submissions to Ministers ask that Civil Servants have considered Parliamentary handling and followed the Civil Service Code. The Code makes reference to section 3(6) of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010. All submissions must be signed off by a Senior Civil Servant (SCS) and copied to the Permanent Secretary. The Home Office also has an extensive parliamentary capability training programme for teams across the department, which at its centre focuses on training civil servants to support Ministers in fulfilling their obligations to Parliament.

Department for Work and Pensions

Poverty

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government whatassessment they have made of the prediction by the Resolution Foundation in their report The Living Standards Outlook 2023, published in January, that between 2021–22 and 2023–24, an additional 800,000 people will be in absolute poverty.

Viscount Younger of Leckie: National Statistics on the number and percentage of people in poverty are published annually in the “Households Below Average Income” publication. The latest statistics published in March 2023 are for the financial period 2021/22. This Government has overseen significant falls in absolute poverty since 2009/10. There were 1.7 million fewer people in absolute low income (60% of median income) after housing costs in 2021/22 compared to 2009/10, a 4 percentage-point decrease. This includes 400,000 children, 1 million working age individuals and 200,000 pensioners. The Government is committed to a sustainable, long-term approach to tackling poverty and supporting people on lower incomes. In 2023/24 we will spend around £276 billion through the welfare system in Great Britain including £114 billion on people of working age and children. The Government understands the pressures people are facing, which is why we are providing total support of over £94bn over 2022-23 and 2023-24 to help households and individuals with the rising cost of living. For the 2023/24 financial year this includes additional Cost of Living Payments for more than 8 million households on means-tested benefits, 6 million people on disability benefits, and 8 million pensioner households across the UK. The government is maintaining the Energy Price Guarantee at £2,500 until the end of June. This will ensure that households across the UK are supported through the spring while retail energy costs are expected to remain high. For people who require additional support, whether they receive benefits or not, the Household Support Fund will continue until March 2024. This year long extension allows Local Authorities in England to continue to provide discretionary support to those most in need with the significantly rising cost of living. The Devolved Administrations will receive consequential funding as usual to spend at their discretion.

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

Energy: Prices

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government whatsteps they are taking to provide additional support to households struggling with high energy costs.

Lord Callanan: As announced in the Spring Budget, the Energy Price Guarantee has been extended at £2,500 to the end of June. By the end of June, the Energy Price Guarantee will have saved a typical household in Great Britain around £1,100 since the scheme began in October, compared to what they would have been paying under the price cap alone.As set out in the Autumn Statement 2022, the Government is developing a new approach to consumer protection in energy markets, which will apply from April 2024 onwards.The Government has committed to work with consumer groups and industry to consider the best approach.